I have yet to study The Meaning of Liff; in fact, I've owned this one for ages, but never even seen part one. Maybe not indispensable. This one isn't either, but some definitions just shine with Douglas Adams' wit and therefore it's nice to dip into once and again.

And it is really satisfying to look up that word for something that's simply missing from one's vocabulary and more traditional dictionary's both. I mean, who's not familiar with Lambarene (Feeling better for having put a pyjamas on) or haven't searched frantically for the word Baldock (the sharp prong on top of a tree stump where the tree has snapped off before being completely sawn through) or wanting to tell someone that Yarmouthing (To shout at foreigners in the belief that the louder you speak, the better they'll understand you) never helped anyone?

This book is basically a fictional dictionary in which Adams and Lloyd take place names and use them to create fictional definitions. For example, Tampa is defined as the sound of a rubber eraser coming to rest after dropping off a desk in a very quiet room.

It was kind of hard work to read it because it is essentially just a non-fiction reference book and so as such, it’s not super fun to read it from cover to cover. I think it would be better suited as a bathroom book that you dip in and out of when you’re on the toilet. But for what it was, it was all right – no more, no less.

It's amusing to dip into but not to read as a book. Finished reading in the Cs.

This sadly hasn't aged well.

A very entertaining read. If your a fan of Douglas Adams then you will like it. The book take a number of place names and gives them some great, funny meanings.

One of my favorites:

Ely (n.) The first, tiniest inkling that something, somewhere, has gone terribly wrong.

From Aalst to Zumbo Douglas Adams and John Lloyd have defined meanings for a wide variety of place names around the world.

For the record, the deeper meaning of Life is "A common object or experience for which no word yet exists". This is the book that supplies these words.

I adore Douglas Adams, but this just wasn't as funny as I was hoping. Lotttts of butt and penis humor.

This one was so relatable, I could have written most of those definitions myself! Thoughtful and hilarious, you could pick up this book and start reading from any point and immediately brighten up your day!

hence thus a beppu (triumphant slamming shut book after finishing). Now I can resume life as a worksop (never getting things done while filling out "to do" urgent lists). When I get past my ahenny bookcase scan.

It seems that the concept of the Sniglet, conceived and popularized by Rich Hall on Not Necessarily the News and several paperback collections, did not make it to the United Kingdom. In this book, the authors have named certain things that should be in the dictionary, but aren't. The difference is that they haven't invented new names, but instead are applying real names of cities that may seem a little odd to these concepts. Handy maps are included to help one find the places that fit the things.

It's funny, it's Adams, it's a laugh. Keep one near the John.

I loved this. Absolutely brilliant. The observations are funny, true to life and clever. It's a book that I happily drop into and pull out something that makes me smile.
A dictionary of false meanings doesn't mean that those situations and meanings don't exist. Just that there isn't a word for them.
Now you can find it here - or make your own.

Reads like a Dictionary becuase it is a dictionary. "A dictionary of things there aren't any words for yet - but there ought to be"
A funny read but, not one I'd advise to sit down and read cover to cover. Great book to have sitting out to pick up and read a few random entries from.